R. Christopher Maxwell of GUYS & DOLLS Carry out Theatre Magic at Arkansas Repertory Theatre
When a significant manufacturing is being carried out, we like to see all of our favourite characters grace the stage. We love to look at them fall in love, we love to listen to them sing the spectacular notes, and we like to really feel just like the “actual” world melts away, even whether it is for simply a few hours. What we do not all the time understand is that it takes a village to make the magic occur. We get accustomed to the gorgeous faces in entrance of us, however there may be a military of expertise backstage making the expertise on stage look good.
Broadway World will get excited after we can have one-on-one time with the good minds that create total worlds for our enjoyment. We’re much more elated with our native artists who exit into the world and create superb lives for themselves, after which deliver it house to share with us. So, think about my pleasure after I found that Arkansas Repertory Theatre’s Manufacturing Stage Supervisor Robert Christopher Maxwell (C. Max) was an area boy from Little Rock. Right here is my interview with this superb Arkansan highlighting his journey within the leisure discipline and the position he performs in GUYS & DOLLS, which is taking part in now by means of December 30.
BWW: Inform us about your self.
R. Christopher Maxwell: I used to be born and raised right here in Little Rock. I began doing drama at Fulbright elementary college. I turned a part of the choir and began performing there in numerous pageants and issues like that, after which I went to drama camp after I was in junior excessive. Additionally, about that point, I began taking part in within the marching band, and as soon as I began studying methods to play the alto saxophone, I bought into efficiency and type of cherished the entire leisure trade. So, after I was in highschool, I observed that they have been doing the play within the auditorium, and I made a decision to poke my head in and see what was occurring. They have been doing a musical referred to as ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, which is principally the Princess and the Pea, and it was fascinating to look at them put all of it together– the set was thrilling to me, the lights, and that they have been placing on the costumes have been actually, actually cool. I simply fell in love with it, and stored skipping band rehearsal to go and watch play rehearsal.
One among his debate administrators observed Maxwell’s curiosity within the play and inspired him to be within the manufacturing. From there he took debate and drama at Central Excessive till he graduated.
Maxwell: I graduated in 2001, which was an incredible 12 months to graduate from highschool, after which I went to the School of Wooster. I used to be there for some time, however then 9/11 occurred, which brought on somewhat little bit of chaos, and likewise my mom handed away initially of the 12 months proper earlier than I graduated, so I used to be going by means of a bunch of stuff. I made it about two years and bought homesick.
Although Maxwell bought his first style of stage managing at Wooster, he determined to come back house and go to the College of Arkansas to complete his diploma. Whereas there he minored in dance, but in addition determined to have a fallback main.
Maxwell: I used to be making an attempt to be secure and studied sociology as nicely, so I completed college with a level in theater, sociology, and a minor in dance.
BWW: How was the job hunt after commencement?
Maxwell: I couldn’t discover a job in theater on the time, so I used to be working on the mall. I used to be not pleased with any of that, so I utilized for a job at this theater that we’re standing in proper now (Arkansas Repertory Theatre), and so they advised me that I wanted to get out get out of Arkansas and see the world somewhat bit and type of, , attempt to get work in different places.
BWW: How did that make you’re feeling?
Maxwell: It was devastating for me to not get the job at that second, however it motivated me to maneuver to Chicago. So with somewhat bit of cash that my dad and mom gave me, a automotive, and a hope and a prayer, I went to Chicago. I had pals from college (School of Wooster) that lived in Chicago, pals from Little Rock Central Excessive that lived in in Chicago, and I additionally had household that primarily lived on the south aspect of Chicago, so I had a pleasant little security web up there that I might go and type of make mistakes- as I did- and it wasn’t the top of the world.
Maxwell spent about six years freelancing for an organization referred to as Hell In a Purse- handbagproductions.org.
Maxwell: They took me in nearly instantly. They’re an incredible queer camp theater firm that does every kind of musicals camps and performs, that are primarily based on every kind of previous Hollywood tales and various things. David Cerda is an incredible author, and that firm type of taught me what it was to do theater as a career. They have been the primary theater that basically noticed me as a stage supervisor, employed me, and continued to rent me to the place I turned the unofficial resident stage supervisor together with his firm.
After his time at Hell in A Purse, Maxwell labored for Navy Pier Leisure for 3 years as Particular Occasions Supervisor.
Maxwell: My job as a particular occasions supervisor was to work on events- from the fireworks that go on all summer season lengthy, to the Winter Wonderfest and New 12 months’s Celebration, and occasions like big carnivals and the Easter Bunny. Then, I made a decision I needed to get out of the Chicago chilly and was in search of how I maintain shifting ahead.
With just a few years of expertise, Maxwell determined he wanted to get a Grasp’s Diploma.
Maxwell: I bought into Columbia College the identical 12 months that Trump bought elected. Actually, throughout the fall of 2016, I bought into grad college, which was purported to be essentially the most superb a part of my life, after which Trump bought elected, so it was like, oh God, right here we’re on one other curler coaster. However I spent three years in New York Metropolis, which was a very powerful time of my life studying from different skilled stage managers.
Grad college served Maxwell nicely throughout this a part of his life.
Maxwell: I discovered what it means to be within the union, what it means to work professionally freelance, and I used to be in a position to see nearly tons of of Broadway reveals on Columbia College’s dime due to their reference to the Broadway league. I used to be in a position to do a bunch of reveals inside their establishment, which sort of taught me about management and having an emotional intelligence when coping with tough points. I discovered about directing for stage administration and methods to stage handle for TV, movie, and dance.
Nonetheless, college didn’t put together Maxwell for what occurred subsequent.
Maxwell: I graduated in 2019 proper earlier than my total trade collapsed, which is type of hilarious. So think about me- it is 2019, and I used to be the one of many previous few individuals who had a full in-person no-mask commencement. Then, the world collapsed. It is a comparable story for me, , each time I graduate from college, some sort of world occasion occurs.
BWW: How did the world shutting down as a result of COVID impact your profession?
Maxwell: I bought to construct a extremely, actually nice community of stage managers, as a result of we have been all pressured on-line. So, I bought extra concerned within the stage managers affiliation, I bought extra concerned in fairness, after which I began a nonprofit group referred to as The Black Theater Caucus, the place it is considered one of my jobs to advertise visibility of African American artists. With this program I began a marketing campaign for stage managers referred to as “101 Stage Managers.” I discovered about 86 different black stage managers out within the US and created a connection so that there is a community of them. So, if there are jobs which can be developing which can be particularly in search of these sorts of stage managers, or there is a job that somebody brings me that I am unable to take, I can ship it off to different individuals. I created this little little bit of community the place individuals have extra sources and that type of the factor.
As soon as the pandemic lifted its maintain on the world, Maxwell labored in theatre somewhat longer earlier than he switched gears.
Maxwell: I bought into instructing, as a result of instructing is a type of issues that occurs when you’ve an MFA. I used to be instructing on-line throughout that complete pandemic as nicely.
When the theatre neighborhood opened again up, Maxwell went to work for Theater for a New Viewers.
Maxwell: At the start of 2022, I began working for MERCHANT OF VENICE at Theater for a New Viewers. Then I bought a name from Trinity Rep in Windfall, Rhode Island, and so they requested me to be an ASM (assistant stage supervisor) on a present, after which I did a PSM (manufacturing stage supervisor) for THE INHERITANCE, which is an enormous present. It’s a large two-part play by Matthew Lopez about what queer women and men inherit from one another, and the legacy that we depart to one another.
After time in Rhode Island, Maxwell bought the decision from the Arkansas Repertory Theatre to work on GUYS & DOLLS.
Maxwell: I took a shot and utilized for the job, and so they have been like ‘we’d like to have you ever down,’ and so right here I’m. 
BWW: What are the perks about coming house to work?
Maxwell: Proper now I am dwelling at house with my dad and mom, which is hilarious. I’ve an condominium in Manhattan, however dwelling at house with my dad and mom, I am waking up with them, and am in a position to spend time with them, whereas I am doing what I like. It is sort of a dream for me. It is actually great to have the ability to be right here in my hometown the place I grew up, what I imply, and do what I like to do. All of my highschool pals all have youngsters and have moved on with their lives. They do various things, and it has been very great to come back again house and do what I like to do, particularly since this theater has undergone loads of adjustments and is rather more welcoming, whereas after I was youthful it in all probability wasn’t the very best place for me. Now, I can truly be a frontrunner, as a substitute of taking some type of decrease place, it has been sort of thrilling, actually.
BWW: For these which can be unfamiliar with GUYS & DOLLS, inform us about it.
Maxwell: GUYS & DOLLS is a typical love story between two completely different {couples} which have a special strategy to like and marriage. You’ve gotten this lifelong couple that has been collectively ceaselessly, however the man (Nathan Detroit-Carlos Lopez) would not need to take the
plunge together with his girlfriend (Miss Adelaide-Stephanie Gibson). Then you’ve a confirmed bachelor who would not imagine in love (Sky Masterson-Christian McQueen), till he finds the sort of proper lady (Sarah Brown-Kim Onah) to type of change his methods. So I suppose the ethical of this story is that the majority males do the issues that they do for the love of a lady, as a result of girls are principally the smarter intercourse and are those who’re answerable for cleansing males up and making them into first rate civilized human beings. So GUYS & DOLLS sort of makes enjoyable of that, however actually if you discover a good relationship and discover that sure somebody who makes you need to change for the higher and turn into a greater particular person, that is additionally one of many messages which you can take away from it.
BWWL What’s your position in GUYS & DOLLS?
Maxwell: I’m the manufacturing stage supervisor, so I coordinate principally every thing. I name the entire lights, however then I additionally be sure that the actors are on stage after they should be, however I additionally queue the musicians within the band when to start out taking part in, and I sort of put all of it collectively. Because the present is type of monitoring ahead, I am the one calling the entire lights, however then additionally ensuring that the present is shifting easily. I wish to name myself air visitors management of theater.
BWW: How lengthy have you ever been stage managing?
Maxwell: I have been doing it now for nearly 20 years, and it has been an exquisite journey. Truthfully, I believe what I get pleasure from is the storytelling. I believe I’ve all the time cherished storytelling since I used to be a child. I believe all of that pageantry and what storytelling does and the way transformative these tales are. I believe being part of the artwork is a lot enjoyable for me. It is somewhat bit like performing magic- like being the Wizard of Oz. I like that it is my job to place smiles on individuals’s faces by having the ability to do an excellent present and inform them a narrative that makes them really feel one thing. I get pleasure from being part of that course of.
BWW: Moreover stage managing, what realm would you wish to pursue?
Maxwell: I believe now I am in a spot the place schooling is one thing that I need to do much more of. I believe I’ve reached an excellent place the place I’ve an excellent story to inform. Additionally, I am noticing a drop within the quantity of stage managers which can be on the market, and I would like to have the ability to assist revive the crew. Nonetheless, if I get a bunch of cash, I might wish to be producing my very own theater, like producing tales and issues like that, or discovering tales and serving to them get funded, and shifting into administration.
BWW: Is there the rest you want to accomplish as a stage supervisor?
Maxwell: I have not gotten to go and be on Broadway but, so that’s nonetheless a objective. After I’ve performed my fifth Broadway present, then I’d take into consideration doing one thing else.
BWW: What sort of recommendation would you give somebody who’s desirous to get into your discipline?
Maxwell: Do your analysis. Be part of the stage managers affiliation, as a result of you will discover a community of individuals in your space that. Be part of teams. Examine. When you’re ever interested by it in your hometown, go to the stage door, ask for the stage supervisor and ask to shadow a present. Ask questions. They provides you with recommendation on methods to get into issues. It is doable you may get an internship out of it, or you may volunteer. There are all the time alternatives on the market, and I discovered that the easiest way that I’ve been capable of finding jobs is speaking, networking, and constructing a neighborhood with different individuals. They should know that you just exist.
BWW: Inform us extra in regards to the Stage Managers Affiliation.
Maxwell: Their web site is stagemanagers.org. I believe probably the greatest issues in regards to the stage managers affiliation is which you can discuss to different states and completely different generations of stage managers. They’ve skilled stage managers which have handled every thing and might let you know about how they cope with issues, however then the youthful stage managers, who’re going through newer points that possibly not all people is aware of about, can let you know about how they deal with issues. It is a actually, actually nice melting pot of various generations of stage administration that I like to recommend that individuals be part of.
To look at Maxwell do his magic behind the scenes with GUYS & DOLLS on the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, go to their web site at therep.org for tickets.
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